Leckel spent a semester in 2005 at community college and hoped to become a sports writer, but he put those dreams on hold. That fall, Leckel told his parents he was dropping out of college to join the Army. They said they knew his motives were right — he wanted to serve his country and make money to help pay for his education.
But "we tried to discourage him," said his stepfather, Richard LeCrone, a disabled Vietnam veteran who lives in Grants Pass. "I've been there, and done that, and I didn't want him to go."
In January 2007, Leckel was sent to Iraq. He wrote his parents detailed accounts of his life there, describing the dangers of Baghdad but also the fun.
"One Iraqi family invited him to dinner, and he wrote us everything he ate," his stepfather said. "They had rice and lamb stew and pita bread. He seemed to like it."
Later, on July 25, when Leckel's mother and stepfather heard knocks on the door, their stomachs sank. An Army chaplain was on the stoop.
"We opened the door and saw him, and we knew," said his mother, Cathy LeCrone. "We just knew."
Leckel also had served as manager of his high school football and baseball teams.
"He was my right-hand man," Prock said.
Leckel was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery and a Purple Heart.
